Whiffletree



(No Model.)

L. S. PLATAU.

v A y WEHPFLBTREB. v No. 406,207. Patented July Z, 1889.

Bf @Mgg ATTUHVEY N: PETERS, Phow-Llebognphar. wahingmn, DACy PATENT LOUIS S. FLATAU, OF FITTSBURG, TEXAS.

VWHIFFLETREE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 406,207, dated July 2,1889.

Application filed April 9, 1889. Serial No. 306,637. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS S. FLATAU, of Pittsburg, in the county of Camp and State of Texas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in VVhiiiletrees, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a new and improved whiftletree, which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a perspective rear View of a singletree constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is aplan View of the metal blank or plate out of which my new and improved whiflietree is formed. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the singletree shown inFig. l, one of the end hooks thereof being shown in dotted lines turned back. Fig. 4: is a sectional View on line :Je cc of Fig. Fig. 5 is a similar view on line y y of Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a detail View of one end hook.

The same let-ters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures.

Referring to the several parts by letter, A indicates the metal blank out of which I form my whiffletree, and I prefer to make it of steel. This blank is shaped orcut of substantially the form shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, tapering slightly from the middle toward each end and recessed or cut out at each end at a a; also at the outer edges near the ends small half-circles a2 a2 are cut out of the blank. This metal blank is then bent into shape longitudinally around a suitable mandrel with a round front edge until the sides of the whiffletree thus formed are parallel, the mandrel being usually three-quarters of an inch thick. The metal blank is thus formed into ahollow whiftletree, the back being open, while the rounded front a is next to the horse. The semieircular recesses a2 a2 at each end are directly opposite each other, as shown.

B B indicate the end hooks, and C the middle ring, each of the three being formed with an enlargement or boss b c at its inner or pivoted end. The enlarged inner ends of the hooks and the ring are formed with a perforation D, which register with holes E E in the hollow tree when they are placed in position,

and they are each secured in position in the whiffletree by a rivet F, passing through the holes F. in the tree and the perforation D in the enlarged inner end of the end hooks and ring,respectively. The end hooks are pivoted in t-he recessed ends of the whifletree., as shownv in the drawings, so that to hook the tracering at the end of the traces in the end hooks the hooks are turned back until their points are at the semieircular recesses a2, as shown in the dotted lines in Fig. 3, when the ring at the end of the trace can be readily slipped over the point of the hook, and after the hooks are thus engaged they are turned forward into their normal position, when it will be seen that the points or free ends of the hooks will stop and'bear against the end of the slot or recess a, so that no draft will have a tendency to straighten the hooks, and the trace-rings will be effectually prevented from' coming loose or unhooked, which is a great objection to many other singletrees..

This is a very important point.

If preferred, I may dispense with the semicircular recesses a2 by forming the points of the hooks shorter, so that when the hook is turned/back there will be room to hook and unhook the trace.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings,

the construction and advantages of my invention will be readily understood. l

It will be seen that my metal whifletreeeither single or double tree-is` simple and cheap in construction and light and very strong, while the end hooks will act as automatic safety-hooks to render it impossible for the traces to become accidentally unhooked.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

l. The combination of awhiffletree formed of a single metal plate having the perforations and bent to form a hollow tree, the hooks and ring having the enlarged perforated ends, and the rivets, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a whiftletree formed of a metal plate having the longitudinal end recesses and bent to form a hollow tree, and the hooks pivotecl in the seid recessed ends, substantially als set forth.

3. The combination of awllifetree formed 5 of a metal plate having the longitudinal and semieireulzu' end recesses and the perfomtions and bent to form a hollow tree, the end hooks and the ring having the perforated enlarged ends, and the rivets, substantially as set forth.

LOUIS S. FLATAU.

Vitnesses:

ADoLPH G. RENAN, T. G. TWYMAN. 

